Have a U-Turn turntable with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. Upgrade cartridge or turntable???

@big_greg

@chakster I’m not sure why you keep recommending cartridges that aren’t in production and nearly impossible to find.

I feel your pain Greg, but they are not "impossible to find", those two models i have mentioned are for sale on ebay very often from many different sellers in USA or EU, even NOS samples.

If you don’t search you will not find, but if you do then you will find and it’s not a big deal. I managed to buy them all, nearly all Stanton and Pickering line (top upper 5 models of each brand).

If you’re in USA then it’s first brand to search for, because you can find local dead stock and stuff like that for very low price (almost nothing), ebay prices are higher for sure, i have mentioned ebay prices (and other sources like UK Audio Mart of US Audio Mart are very helpful.

I recommend them because i like the sound so much!

Maybe you’re not looking for some NOS cartridges, but i’m sure you are aware of NOS tubes and NIB are still available even if they are from the 30’s like some tubes i bought for my amp this year.

Regarding rare cartridge you can simply ask me if you can’t find them yourself.

Remember those endless Mm thread and seems like everyone was able to find many top class vintage cartridges (even in NOS, sealed boxes).

I have a Stanton 981 HZS cartridge that came with a JVC turntable I bought.  It didn't sound that great, but I think the stylus was worn and of course, an original replacement is also unobtanium.

I also like the Rega recommendation and just move up the Ortofon line or consider a Nakagoka MP-110 ( $165 )

a new stylus in your ortofon cartridge (replaceable and/or interchangeable) is better than the new Spirit cartridge IMO

2M Series styli interchangeability:
The 2M Series' engines, coils and magnets configurations are not identical: Red and Blue are identical, so are the Bronze and Black and so are the true mono variants 2M Mono and 2M 78. Likewise, 2M series styli are interchangeable within the below combinations:
- 2M Red, 2M Blue and 2M Silver
- 2M Bronze and 2M Black
- 2M Mono and 2M 78

Dump the Orbit in a heartbeat. Music Hall are decent from my listening, Rega or Fluance are better choices. You can get a Fluance RT-84/85 w/ortofon Red MM for 499.00 USD

@chakster: I too wonder why the push against certain types of cartridges. Not all of us have an unlimited amount of funds so we get the best we can with what we have.